Clothesline clamp



March 13, 1934. E. KULHAWY 1,950,895

CLOTHESLINE CLAMP Filed Dec. 1932 avvoe'ntoz EM! L K U L H AWY [in awe 0mm; (9'

Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT FF1E 1 Claim.

The main object of this invention is the provision of a novel clamp adapted for use in combination with clothes lines, whereby the loose ends of the loop formed by the line are joined permanently yet readily adjustable.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a clamp adapted to have one of the loose ends of the clothes line tied on one of the two mutually pivoted arms of the clamp, the other loose end of the line being clamped securely between the arms of the device, to securely yet adjustably unite said ends.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a clamp having the characteristic, when attached to the clothes line in the manner above-described, will tighten its hold about the clamped end of the line in proportion to the amount of pull exerted by that end, thus eliminating the possibility of that end of the line slipping out of the device and hence at all times assuring a safe union of the ends of the loop formed by the line.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing, Figure 1 is an illustrative view showing the clamp applied to a clothes line.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the clamp as it appears when mounted on the clothes line.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the clamp per se.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the same.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the clamp taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4, the course of the clothes line therethrough being indicated in broken lines.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral indicates a fragment of a window frame or the wall adjacent a window, and the numeral 11 a clothes line pole. Pulleys 13 and 14 are suspended from hooks attached to the respective members mentioned, and the clothes line 12 is trained about these pulleys, the loose ends 15 and 16 of the clothes line being secured to the clamp in the manner about to be described.

The clamp of this invention comprises a pair of arms 1'7 and 18 pivotally secured at their lower extremities to each other by means of any suitable pivot 19. The arm 1'7 comprises a straight section 20 and an extension 23 wavelike in curvature and bent at an angle to the straight section 20. The arm 18 similarly comprises a straight section 21 having an extension 22 wave-like in curvature and bent at an angle to the straight section 21. For the purpose of more-clearly setting forth the description of the invention, that section of the wave-like extension 22 which is indicated by the numeral 24 will be called the concave section of the arm 18. Both arms terminate in rounded tapering extremities 25.

The arm 17 comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel side walls 26 extending from the pivot 19 and tapering at the upper extremity where they merge convergently. Similarly, the arm 18 comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel walls 27 likewise converging at the upper extremity 25 of that arm, the walls 27 of the latter being spacedapart at such a distance that they iit between the walls 26 of the arm l'l. Bridging the walls 26 within the straight section 20 of the arm 17, is a member 28 which is convex on the outside and which is provided with teeth 29 on the inside, the teeth extending the full width of the distance between the walls 26. A second bridging member 30, resembling merely a rung in its width, is provided near the upper extremity of the arm 17, and between this rung 30 and the extremity of the arm a hole 31 is thereby formed.

Between the side walls 27 of the arm 18, and within the straight section 21, a bridging member 32 is formed complementary to the bridging member 28, that is, it is convex on the outside and provided with one or more teeth 33 on the inside adapted to register between the teeth 29 of the member 28. A second bridging member 34, flush on the outside with the walls 27 and concave on the inside, is formed in the concave section 2 1 of the arm 18. An area 25 comprising an extension of the upper extremity 25 of the arm 17, forms one side of a hole 35, the opposite side of this hole being formed by the bridging member 34.

In use, one end 15 of the clothes line 12 is tied by means of a knot to the upper extremity 25' of the arm 17, the line being passed through the hole 31. The other end 16 of the clothes line is passed from the outside through the ho 35 of the arm 18 around the bridging member 34 through thespace between the toothed members or jaws 28 and 32 and thence out between the jaw 32 of the arm 18 and pivot 19, the end of the line 16 hanging free under the clamp. It is obvious that taughtening of the clothes line causes separation of the upper ends of the arms 17 and 18 and consequent movement toward each other of the jaws 28 and 32, whence the line 16 is clamped between said jaws and rigidly held therein. Any increase in the tension of the clothes line tends to further tighten the clamp about the end 16, so that there is at no time any danger that the ends of the line may be separated. When the line is not in use, that is, when no clothes are hung from it, the normal tension resulting from the weight of the line will be plentifully sufficient to keep the clamp locked tightly. It is to be noted that all surfaces with which the line comes in contact on the clamp, are rounded so as to minimize the Wear on the line resulting from rubbing or friction.

Obviously modifications in form and structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

jaws being toothed.

EMIL KULHAWY.

lift 

